The previous Administration’s depopulation response has taken a toll on the U.S. egg supply. To help, the National Chicken Council wants the FDA to allow broiler eggs for food.
The group has petitioned the Agency asking that they modify or reverse the regulation forcing broiler eggs to be discarded, which was first put in place under the Obama Administration. They say the move would put around 400 million eggs back into the supply chain each year and could ease costs for consumers.
Data shows the average New York wholesale price for large eggs at the end of January at nearly $7.50/dozen, which is up more than 150 percent on the year. USDA expects another 20 percent increase in the costs of eggs this year.
To help the situation, Turkey is exporting eggs to the United States. According to Reuters, the Egg Producers Central Union in Turkey will export around 15,000 tons of eggs, which equates to 700 containers. The Union said shipments began this month and will continue through this summer.